This Article is From Feb 13, 2019

India's Antitrust Agency Probes Google For Alleged Android Abuse: Report

Google's Android operating system, used by device makers for free, features on about 85 percent of the world's smartphones. In India, about 98 percent of the smartphones sold in 2018 used the platform, Counterpoint Research estimates.

India's Antitrust Agency Probes Google For Alleged Android Abuse: Report

Last year, India's antitrust agency imposed a fine of $19 million on Google for "search bias"

New Delhi:

India's antitrust commission is looking into accusations that Alphabet Inc's unit Google abuses its popular Android mobile operating system to block its rivals, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter told news agency Reuters.

The Competition Commission of India or CCI has for the past six months been reviewing a case similar to one Google faced in Europe that led to a fine of 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) by antitrust regulators last year, three of the sources said. Google has challenged that order.

The European Commission found Google had abused its market dominance since 2011 with practices such as forcing manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and its Chrome browser, together with its Google Play app store on Android devices.

"It is on the lines of the EU case, but at a preliminary stage," said one of the sources, who is aware of the CCI investigation.

Google declined to comment. The Competition Commission of India did not respond to Reuters' queries.

The antitrust commission's enquiry into allegations against Google over its Android platform has not previously been reported.

Google executives have in recent months met Indian antitrust officials at least once to discuss the complaint, which was filed by a group of individuals, one of the sources said.

The antitrust commission could ask its investigations unit to further investigate the accusations against Google, or throw out the complaint if it lacks merit. The commission's investigations have historically taken years to complete.

Android, used by device makers for free, features on about 85 percent of the world's smartphones. In India, about 98 percent of the smartphones sold in 2018 used the platform, Counterpoint Research estimates.

In October, Google said it would charge smartphone makers a fee for using its popular Google Play app store and also allow them to use rival versions of Android to comply with the EU order.

The change, however, covered only the European Economic Area, which comprises the 28 EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

"The CCI will have a tough time not initiating a formal investigation into Google given the EU case, unless they can show the problem has been addressed (by remedies)," one of the sources said.

Last year, the Competition Commission imposed a fine of 1.36 billion rupees ($19 million) on Google for "search bias" and abuse of its dominant position. It also found Google had put its commercial flight search function in a prominent position on the search results page.

Google appealed against that order, saying the ruling could cause it "irreparable" harm and reputational loss, news agency Reuters reported.
 

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